MADISON, Wis. - Twenty-one crews will represent the United States at the 2012 World Rowing Under-23 Championships beginning Wednesday, July 11, in Trakai, Lithuania. Of the 21 crews, four Badgers will sport the red, white and blue and look to earn gold in their respective events at the four-day event.

Recent UW graduates Tim Aghai and Andrew Weiland will represent the U.S. in the men's pair and lightweight men's four, respectively, at the championships. After failing to qualify for the Olympic Games in the same event, Aghai, along with teammate Austin Hack, will try to bring the U.S. its first-ever medal in the men's pair. Weiland, a 2011 graduate, will stroke the third seat for the U.S. lightweight men's four boat.

Current student-athletes Kendall Schmidt and Samantha Brecht will also represent the Badgers for the red, white and blue at the U-23 games. Schmidt will stroke the boat for the U.S. women's eight squad, while Brecht will represent UW in the women's lightweight quad.

Trials begin tomorrow morning with all 21 teams racing during the first day of competition.